Diethelm Travel Management Limited

6-day The Colonial Perspective

Downloaded on: 5 Oct 2021

Tour code: PNHDPCO1 Tour type

( Private )

Tour Level: Relaxed / Easy Tour Comfort: Luxury Tour Period: 6 Days

Phnom Penh highlights tour details

Discover Phnom Penh With French and Japanese influences, Cambodia is a melting pot of Visit Wat Langka, one of Phnom Penh's five original pagodas history, tastes and architecture. In Phnom Penh you'll visit the Royal Wander through the Russian Market Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom and the Tuol Sleng Museum before Step back in time and enjoy dinner at the Foreign Correspondents exploring the city. You'll also cruise Tonle Sap Lake, the Mekong River Club and have dinner at the Foreign Correspondents Club. You'll then Cruise Tonle Sap Lake & see a floating village depart to Siem Reap by Angkor Air where you'll explore the temples of Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Prasat Kravan, 'The Royal Baths' & Ta Prohm. Undoubtedly during your time in Siem Reap, you'll create some amazing memories. Enjoy sunset at the Pre Rup temple, see the Angkor Heritage Site from a tethered balloon, try modern Khmer cuisine and experience an Apsara show!

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tour description

Day 1 : PHNOM PENH ARRIVAL (-/L/-)

Meet upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport. Transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon). Lunch at hotel. The capital of Phnom Penh is an incongruous cluster of crumbling French colonials, and the central riverside area has a pace all its own that's great for walking around. Phnom Penh's packed with history, visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Visit Phnom Penh city to discover its beautiful colonial architecture. Get an idea of Phnom Penh's architectural fusion from colonial to modern post -independence and you are transported through Phnom Penh's central districts and the former 'quarter fran'e7ais'. A time travel through the architectural periods. End your afternoon with a visit to Wat Phnom temple, Phnom Penh's namesake. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river. Dinner Suggestion: Van's Restaurant where the French Haute Cuisine perfectly matches the ambience of this beautifully restored 110 year old colonial building (former Banque de l'Indochine) , creating the most romantic place in Phnom Penh to dine. Accommodation at Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Day 2 : PHNOM PENH (B/L/D)

Breakfast at "Caf'e9 Monivong" at hotel. Visit the Independence Monument and Wat Langka, one of Phnom Penh's five original wats (pagodas), founded in 1422. First established as a sanctuary for the Holy Writings and a meeting place for Cambodian and Sri Lankan monks, the Wat was named in honor of these meetings. Wat Langka was used as a storehouse by the Khmer Rouge, so it escaped total destruction. Now fully renovated, this temple still plays an important place in Cambodian Buddhism. Visit the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux- Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Lunch at hotel. Visit the notorious Tuol Sleng Museum (S 21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot's security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Time at leisure at the Russian Market (Psah Tuol Thom Pong). Enjoy a joint Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. Dinner at FCC Restaurant, this famous Foreign Correspondent Club is located on the second floor of a beautiful old colonial-era building with spectacular sweeping views of the riverfront. Accommodation at Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Day 3 : PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP (B/L/D)

Buffet breakfast at "Caf'e9 Monivong" at hotel. Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Cambodia Angkor Air or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon). Start your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Visit Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool

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(representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake),and Ta Som. Buffet lunch at Caf'e9 D'Angkor at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. In the afternoon, continue your temple tour to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang ("The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon, (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation). Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Enjoy the sunset at the mountain-temple of Pre Rup. Enjoy a flight in a tethered Balloon from where you have a wonderful view of Angkor Heritage Site and the surrounding nature.(The timing of the Balloon flight will depend on the current wind conditions.) Dinner at AHA restaurant a small funky space serving modern interpretations of Khmer Classics. After dinner have some time to stroll around at Pub Street. Accommodation at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor.

Day 4 : SIEM REAP (B/L/D)

Buffet breakfast at "Caf'e9 D'Angkor" at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. This morning, visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). Visit the South Gate to Bayon temple, passing between gods and demons enter the walled and royal city of Angkor Thom watched by monkeys. Visit Bayon temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), Baphuon (recently re- opened after years of restoration), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Buffet lunch at Caf'e9 D'Angkor at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. Optional tour: A half day tour by Vintage Mercedes car to visit Angkor Wat This afternoon, continue your visits to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Dinner at FCC Angkor restaurant has an open design to take advantage of the spectacular views it is afforded by its unique location overlooking the Siem Reap River. Accommodation at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor.

Day 5 : SIEM REAP (B/L/D)

An early bird special: Transfer to the archaeological site for sunrise from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat. Or sunrise at Angkor Wat. (We recommend to bring a torch) Return to the hotel for Buffet breakfast at "Caf'e9 D'Angkor" at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer Art. Stop at a local village to visit families who are producing palm sugar. Continue to Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Lunch at Viroth's restaurant a trendy place, open to nature, blending traditional materials with contemporary forms. Built around a

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luxuriant garden with ponds, the restaurant offers traditional refined Khmer Cuisine. This afternoon is free to explore the town and do some shopping or to relax by the swimming pool at your hotel. Dinner at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor with Apsara Dance Show at the Apsara Terrace. (The show is only 3 times a week and can be scheduled on another evening) Accommodation at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor.

Day 6 : SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE (B/L/-)

Breakfast at "Caf'e9 D'Angkor" at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. After breakfast drive to the country side and take an ox-cart ride through the villages and the rice fields. At the end of your ride, have a fresh coconut drink with the family and do not hesitate to talk with the local people to get to know more about their lives. Then take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and visit a floating village. The village moves with the water level and during wet season houses are anchored around an island pagoda. Afterwards, visit Senteurs D'Angkor and experience the authentic scents and tastes of Cambodia through a range of traditional handmade products that help create jobs and incomes for impoverished rural communities. Delicatessen delights include spices, traditional teas, highland coffees and local rice liquors. There are also medical balms and natural massage oils as well as perfumed candles and incense. Buffet lunch at Caf'e9 D'Angkor at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor. In the afternoon, visit "Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles", this centre is working with young artisans; the team creates, produce and market a unique collection of ornamental sculpture, lacquer ware, silk weaving and silk painting. The company promotes fair, sustainable development in order to provide benefits to the rural communities. Spend time at leisure at a local market Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination. includes excludes

Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) International airfare to / from Cambodia (quoted separately, if and private bathroom requested) Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= Optional tours dinner Surcharges for other language guides Transfers and tours with local English guides (guides in other Personal travel insurance languages are on request and may be subject to supplements) Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, in private air-conditioned vehicles camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc. All entrance fees/ boat fees fees as mentioned in the Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme programme Drinks with meals Bottled water and cold towels available on the vehicles Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak Domestic air ticket Phnom Penh season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking Siem Reap and airport taxes Visa fees Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme Massage at the Hotel's Amrita Spa Vintage Mercedes car Christmas and New Year's Eve Dinners

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